ComplaintsforDesigner Memorials

• Initial Complaint

  05/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Mr. ****** accepted payment amounting to $6,345.50 from me with the intention of creating a memorial for my youngest son, who tragically lost his life due to murder. I was prepared to pay additional funds for the inclusion of extra items in my son's memorial, but I discovered that Mr. ****** was repeatedly deceiving me and causing delays in the project. He went so far as to send me pictures of nonexistent items, leading me to design the memorial with those elements in mind. Later, it became apparent that he had merely used a slab of granite, falsely claiming to have purchased it for me. Shockingly, he charged me over $2900 for this slab but failed to provide a receipt upon my request. In light of these circumstances, I promptly demanded a full refund, as I had paid him in full back in November 2020. It is important to note that all my payments were made via Zelle, directly from my bank account and in real-time, and I explicitly requested that he refund the money through the same channel. Regrettably, Mr. ****** has failed to produce any tangible results or evidence of his work, effectively absconding with my money. Consequently, after three years, my son remains without a grave marker, compounding my anguish and distress.

  Business response

  06/15/2023

  [BBB Transcription via Mail]

  I was contacted by ***** **** in July of 2020- my first file was created and saved July, 17, 2020 for her. We discussed what the cemetery would allow in the section of the cemetery her son is burried, 2'x1' flat marker or a 3' bench. I provided by email images of benches I've designed and completed. After our phone conversation, I emailed her asking for the orginal photos for the etchings to be emailed to me. She replied she would have her children email their original pictures from their phones. I have never recieved the photos. 
  Later she asked about purchasing a ledger; 
  I worked with the owner of the cemetery to get the ledger approved for the section. Later she asked for vases and a bench to be added on top of the ledger. I worked with the cemetery to get these approved. 
  When I received pictures she emailed, I informed her they were not usable images due to file size and quality for etching on granite. 
  She informed me she is designing the ledger, I would ask to see the images to make sure they were usable for the etching work. Email 8-27-2020. Email 9-11-2020 I sent specs for etching requirements 
  I received family pictures that were taken from a studio and pulled an image of her son and created a scaled layout for her to add upon. 2-24-2022 The layout was not used. 
  I provided to her a scaled layout of the ledger, a curved bench and vase as a template. 2-9-2021 The layout was never used. 
  I have over 222 pages of emails printed to submit to BBB that talks about her delays in working on the ledger design. This does not include the many pages of my hand written notes. 
  2020- 27 files 56.7 MB files created 
  2021-60 files 432 MB files created 2022- 149 files 6.42 GB created 
  She wrote many emails and we had many phone conversations that she is designing the ledger but her work on the designing of the ledger has been delayed for her school or her working on her son's murder case. 
  On April 3, 2023 I recieved in the mail her flash drive that containes 660MB 146 files and 13 folder- Flash drive contained poor quality images that had been previously discussed that the images would not work for etching on granite. There was not a usable scaled ledger design on the flash drive. 
  Purchased- 
  3'x6'x4" black granite ledger stone specifically for ***** **** along with 2 larger black granite tapered vases. 3-10-2021 
  The cemetery foundation fee for her son's cemetery lot was paid for. 3-25-2021 
  At no cost a stone to mark the grave until the ledger was placed. 10-8-2020 
  Several trips made to the cemetery to have her request approved. 
  She has been provided with a paid receipt that clearly states what our agreement covers. 
  I made recommendations for trying to resolve the issues but was berated by ***** **** rather than having options discussed and resolved. Email 5-22-2023 
  The granite was purchased for ***** ****- I ask that she has it removed from my shop as soon as possible. 
  

  
  

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